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NFL Rumors: Lions expected to hire Patriots’ Matt Patricia as head coach

By Brad Berreman

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia looks on during the first half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia looks on during the first half against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots aren’t playing this weekend, but they are getting ready for the departure of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

Having Wild Card weekend off, as usual, has opened up head coaching interview possibilities for New England Patriots’ coaches. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are the headliners, and both have had multiple interviews this week.

As the Patriots wait to see who will come to Foxboro to face them in the Divisional Round, one of their coordinators apparently has one foot out the door.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Patriots are “bracing” for Patricia to leave and most likely become the next head coach of the Detroit Lions. An official announcement can’t be made until New England’s season is over, but it’s safe to say the Lions will wait for Patricia if he’s their guy to replace Jim Caldwell.

Similarly, poorly kept secrets regarding head coaching openings have occurred with Super Bowl coordinators in recent years. Dan Quinn moved from the Seattle Seahawks to become the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach a few years ago, and Kyle Shanahan went from the Falcons to the San Francisco 49ers a year ago. If the job in Detroit lingers open in the coming weeks, and of course the Patriots win a couple games, the hiring of Patricia will become all but official.

Lions general manager Bob Quinn overlapped with Patricia in New England, as assistant director of pro personnel and then director of scouting from 2009-2015. Florio suggested the two men have a very good relationship, which is obviously important in the head coach-general manager dynamic. Perhaps not coincidentally, they are also close in age (Patricia-43, Quinn-41, almost 42).

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Patricia has been an assistant coach with the Patriots since 2004, and he’s been Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator since 2012. He is viewed as very smart, with a degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic, and he has become a popular head coaching candidate in recent years. He is probably ready to run his own team, and Detroit looks like the ideal spot for Patricia to take his first head coaching job.

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